Artificial filament and other product.



\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

r a full, clear, and exact description of the in WALLACE APPLETON BEAZI'IY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,,TO GEORGE W. BEADLE, NEW YORK, N Y

ARTIFICIAL FILAMENT AND OTHER PRODUCT.

N 0 Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. \VALLAcn- Arrmrrox BEA'I'TY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Filaments and other Products; and I do hereby declare the following to be vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and produce products of this nature which will be water-proof, as well as non-infiammable,

strong and tenacious, and will therefore, be

more efficient in use than those heretofore proposed.

To these ends the invention consists in the novel filaments and products made from a mixture of cellulose acetate and dioxydiphenyl-dimethyl-methane, all as will be more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, it is said :-In my .prior application #702,046, filed June (3, 1912, entitled Artificial gums and process of producing the same, I have disclosed and claimed a new gum and method of making it, which method, when briefly stated, con-, sists in forming a crystalline product from a mixture of acetone and phenol to which is added a small quantity of acid, in order .to producea compound,-which I believe to be dioxy-diphenyl-(iimethyl-methane. In said application, this compound is then further acted upon by formaldehyde, in order to produce a further product constitutinga new gum, but the latter is not always used in this invention. This compound dioxy-diphenyl dimethyl-methane is of a crystalline form, and soluble in alcohol, ether, acetone, glacial acetic acid, amyl alcohol, amyl acetate and acetylene-tetra-chlorid, or mixtures of these. Accordingly, in -making artificial silk, or other filaments out of this said compound and cellulose acetate, I preferably provide a mixture containing say 25-'parts by weight of the said dioxy-diphenyl-dimethyl methane Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 3, 1913.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

Serial No. 740.079.

acetone, to the proper consistem y, and I.

force the solution through the usual capillary orifices now employed in making filaments for artificial silk, and recover the said 3 filamentsin any suitable liquid in which the I filaments are not soluble, such for example.

as benzene, or in any other desired and well known manner. The filamentsthus made, as in fact the compound. substance, when otherwise pro duced, is found to be hard and tenacious, transparent and flexible, insoluble in water, very resistant,to moisture, and non-inflammable in the sense that it will only burn when kept constantly in the flame.

The filaments when thus, or otherwise,- produced. may be combined into larger 'threads, or they maybe of a sutfic1ent size to be used as threads themselves, and 'are finally woven into the desired fabric in manners well known.

After a fabric is thus made, for some purposes, such for example. as tent cloths, I ma y coat the fabric in the known way, with .a thin solution of the mixture in'order to make it more water proof, stitt'er. or lesspermeable-to the air, or I may dip the entire fabric into a thin solution of the mixture for the same purposes.

Not only may I make entirefalnrics out of the filaments thus proposed, but I may take ordinary fabrics, such as cloth, paper, etc., and soak the same in well known ways, in a solution of this mixture, or I may apply the said mixture to the said fabrics as a coating very much as varnish-like substances are now applied to such fabrics for the produc-.

prepared for the reception of the well known pyroxylin leather dressing, and I may apply the mixture to the leather with a brush,

will be found to have a tenacious, hard ater-proof coating which gives it a bright appearance and is found to be exceedingly durable.

Leather may even be impregnated with my new mixture in order to increase its wearing qualities, and to provide a flexible 'ater-proof material of this nature. This impregnation is especially suitable for sole leather, insoles, etc., 'and in order to render the leather more flexible, I may reduce the quantity of cellulose acetate and increase the quantity of the dioxy-diphenyl-dimethylmethane. A good mixture would consist of say equal parts of these substances.

Not only may I apply thismixture to fabrics, leather, etc., as above stated, but I may even make patent leather therefrom. In such case, the leather is prepared in a manner similar to, or the same, as it is now prepared for the reception of the present pyroxylin coating; my mixture is applied thereto as by a brush, or by other means, and the leather is finished in a manner well known to those skilled in thisart.

A further application of my new mixture is in the production of substitutes for the well known,pyroxylin artificial leathers in general. As is well known, these leathers are in great demand at present, and it is very desirable to find a cheaper and better material to furnish the coatings which are employed.

It is further well known that when the present pyroxylin coating is subjected to the Wear and tear of use and especially to the moisture with which it comes in contact, it undergoes a decomposition which liberates to a greater or less extent, its contained nitric acid, which results in a breaking up of the coating itself, as well as an injury to the cloth, or other substances forming the body of the leather.

It, of course, is further well known to be highly inflammable, thereby necessitating the loading of the material with non-inflammable substances.

My compound, .on the other hand, is subject to no such disadvantages and it furnishes at once a hard, absolutely waterproof, and a non'intlammable coating having a high polish and great wearing qualities.

In fact, by properly coating fabrics of various kinds or impregnating the same with my new mixture or compound. subjecting them to the action of rollers to the calendering, and other processes to which leatheroid, artificial leathers, and like substances are now commonly subjected, I produce a prodor yarns, and impregnate the same with the mixture by passing said threads or yarns through a bath containing the mixture dis solvedto the proper consistency. These said impregnated threads or yarns may then be Woven into suitable fabrics or used for other purposes.

My mixture is further useful as a malle-. able glass in that it is transparent, tenacious, water proof, and is especially adapted for the making of automobile shield, window panes in carriages, wagons, cars, etc. It is also useful for making lanterns aboard ship,

which aresubject'ed to the concussions of gun he, or for making any other glass-like articles which are in constant danger of being broken. In mak ng these glass-like articles, the mixture is preferably flowed on to flat sheets, such as glass, into sheets of a suitable thickness, whereupon it may be subjected to the action of rollers. and smoothed out. The surfaces may then be polished in a manner similar to the polishing of glass surfaces well known to those skilled in the art, whereupon it will be found to have a high polish, to be transparent and well adapted for its purpose. The glass-like sheets may also have incorporated therein the usual wire reinforcements thatare now found in reinforced glass, in which condition it is especially adapted for the roofs of vaults, hot houses, and other places. Such sheets may further be colored by dyes, or by other means, and the material made into celluloicl articles. These said celluloid articles may be further reinforced or strengthened by wire material molded therein. In fact, the new mixture is well adapted for celluloid articles in genei ll in that it may be molded, colored, dyed, or otherwise finished into any desired shapes that celluloid articles now have, and such articles will have the very desirable property of being noninflammable while they will also be less expensive to produce. In making up these celluloid articles, the mixture is brought to a suitable consistency, suitable dyes are mixed therewith, or other coloring matter, and in fact, suitablefillers may be also incorporated therewith, as is usually done inmaking such articles.

The procedure in making these various articles is in all respects similar, if not identical, with the making of corresponding articles out of CQlllllOld, and other plastic substances.

In addition to the above uses of this articles out of the mixture, if they are to v ha vea dark or black'col'or, suitable coloring material. such as lamp black is readily incorporated with the mixture, the material is molded, or otherwise formed, in the proper shape and the'artic'les may be cut or otherwise fashioned, precisely as hard rub-- ber is now worked. 1

further useful article may be made from my new mixture, in the form of a bag to contain explosive charges for ordnance.

The present powder bags used for this purpose are made of silk, which has the obection. not only of being porous, and therebv itl'llllttlll the ases of the smokeless powder to escape. but they are also infiam mable and liable to cause theircontained powder to explode when coals of fire. or other burning objects. are accidentally dropped on the outsideof the bag.

In treating powder bags with my new mixture. 1 coat the outside of the silk bag with a layer of the solution which is of sufficient thickness to prevent sparks. or other ignited objects. from penetrating to the powder when accidentally dropped thereon.

and at the same time,I render the silk itself non-1)ermeable to the escaping gases, and thereupon keep the powder air tlght. This has the advantage of making the charge more uniform when exploded.'a-nd therefore gives increasedaccuracy to the shot when fired.

of course. the new mixture, when dried or molded. is well adapted for the making of buttons.- combs. and other articles of personal wear which are now usually made from pyroxyhn compounds, and hasthe further advantage of being non-inflammable and inodorous. It is further well adapted for the fixing of the bristles of brushes, such as toot-h brushes. shaving brushes. etc.. in

their holders. which holders may be made .of the same material or of other substances,

as may be desired. A, It is further well adapted for the making of artificial ivory, horn. tortoise shell, and other substitutes, which are now usually made out of pyroxyhn or celluloid com pounds.

In producing these various artlcles, my

mixture is first suitably colored by dyes,

or other coloring matter. and it is treated in all manner. or very similar, as the corr spending celluloid articles would be treated.

My mixture is in addition to the above uses, well adapted for: insulating purposes with other gums for special purposes. ,In

order to make this lacquer, it .is only necessary to dissolve the dioxy-diphenyldimethyl-methane mixed with cellulose acetate in a suitable solvent, such as acetone or acetone mixed with methyl alcohol, andbring the mixture to the proper consistencyv whereupon it may be applied-with a brush, or in any'other manner. lacquer may be unusually wise dissolve my novel gum mentioned 'in the first portion of this specification, in. the acetone, or other suitable solvent. and mix the same in suitable proportions with the lacquer. A good mixture is made from adding say five per cent. of thegum up to twentyfive or thirty per cent. thereof, according to the uses to which the lacquer is to be applied. I have further found that if the dissolved gum is made to ha ve'an acid reaction by adding acid thereto. it will go into its hard and insoluble condition without having to go through the heating stages which are described in my said pending applica- ..t-ion above. and therefore. for many purposes in making this lacquer I prefer to add sutlicient acid to the solution of gum to give it this acid reaction.

In making many of the articles above disclosed. and especially the powder bag, or other articles to which it is especially desired to impart a non-inflammable character I prefer to employ an acid solution of my gum as an outer coat or coating for the article in ,question. In fact. after a silk powder bag is coated with my mixture, I then preferably apply a coating of the acid solution of the gum over the same, and thereby secure an exceedingly non-inflammable powder bag.

The same treatment'is givemto the articles which are provided with my mixture as an insulating compound. That is to say, when 'I coat a wire. for example. with my mixture as an insulating compound for many purposes. I prefer to pass the coated wire through a bath containing my acidulated solution of gum in order to give it an outer coating of a hard enamel-like character, which is non-inflammable and very durable.

In additionto the above. I may add to the mixture of dioxy-diphenyl-dimethylmethane and ce lulose acetate a greater or ii general. It is found to have a very high In order that the. hard, I may likeless proportion of the gum solution for a large number of the purposes above men- #094274 filed April 30, 1912,

- in those cases &

eral and for other purposes, as Will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

.Not only may I employ a mixture of dioxy-diphenyl-dimethyl-methane and cellulose acetate for the above purposes, but for many purposes I may employvhomologues of phenol, as well as of acetone: for the preparation of mixtures with cellulose acetate, all as will be obvious to those skilled in this art. In fact, it is further obvious that organic'chemists and others skilled in this art, may vary the details of my procedure without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore, I do not wish to be limited tothe said disclosure except in which it would positively require invention to depart therefrom. In fact, I believe my invention to be broadly new and myself to be entitled to all of the equivalents which the present knowledge of those skilled in the art. would produce.

Further, in my copending application and entitled Plastic compound and process of making same, I have disclosed a compound consisting of a cellulose ester and a condensation product of acetone or its homologues With phenol or its homologues. That is to say, posed of dio'xy-diphenyl-dimethyl?methane and a nit-ro-cellulose, preferring .to use about eighty parts of twenty parts of dioxy-diphenyl-dimethylmethane dissolved in a suitable solvent, such as amyl acetate; or this latter solvent mixed with acetone.

. this mixture and disclosed in said application is a transparent or translucent substance strong and tenacious, but more inflammable than is the product produced by the mixture of cellulose acetate and the dioxy diphenyl dimethyl methane above mentioned. It is obvious, however, that each of the products mentioned above as made of this last named mixture may be.

duplicated with a mixture made from dioxydiphenyl-dimethyl-methane and cellulose nitrate. It is not necessary-to repeat the steps or process of making each of these several products,.but in producing the same, it is said that these said steps are well known in the art of producing these various products and aresubstantially the same as the steps outlined above in connection with said products.

Accordingly, I Wish it to be understood that I do not limit this application to the use of cellulose acetate in the mixture, but

I have disclosed a plastic substance com-- mtro-cellulose and The product produced-by mix the mixture of cellulose nitrate and dioxy-diphenyl-dimethyl-methane with camphor, or camphor substitutes. This makes a very beautiful transparent material wlnch maybe substituted for celluloid, and may be worked and handled precisely as, or substantially, as celluloid is now worked in thevarious arts.

It further can be utilized in making each of the above products, and therefore, I want it distinctlyunderstood that this application likewise covers the use of camphor in connection with my dioxy-diphenyldimethyl-methane and cellulose nitrate.

In making up plastic compounds employing camphor, I preferably mix the camphor and thedioxy-diphenyl-dimethyLmethane in about equal pro-portions, and then mix thetwo with the cellulose nitrate, but, of course, the ratio proportions may be varie without departing from the spirit of my invention. A good mixture is composed of say seventy-five per cent. tri-nitro-cellulose and twelve andone'ihalf per cent. each of camphor and dioxy-diphenyl-dimethyl-methaneQ This mixture is dissolved in the same solvents as those mentioned above.

. What I claim is I 1. The herein described new article of manufacture consisting of a woven fabric to be woven into a fabric and containing as' an essential element a mixture or dioxydiphenyl-dimethyl-methane and cellulose acetate, substantially as described.

3. The herein described new article of manufacture consisting of a fiber adapted to be twisted into a thread and'containing as an essential element a mixture of dioxydiphenyl-dimethyl-methane and cellulose acetate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

Y WALLACE APPLETON BEATTY.

Witnesses:

T. A. WITHERSPOON, R. M. PARKER. 

